What to Expect: New York Fashion Week Spring 2017

The first leg of Fashion Month begins tomorrow. New York Fashion Week will launch the Spring 2017 ready-to-wear season, with editors, buyers, and VIPs attending shows, presentations, and after-parties in NYC before heading to London, Milan, and Paris to do it all over again. Style.com/Arabia caught up with Vogue Arabia Fashion Director, Daniela Agnelli, for her insight on the upcoming fashion week.

The Big Ticket

Kanye West is set to host his Yeezy Season 4 show on September 7th. The rapper, who is currently on the move for his Saint Pablo tour, is scheduled to perform two concerts this week at Madison Square Garden (also where he hosted his Yeezy Season 3 spectacle). However, the location for this edition’s showcase—apparently featuring only multi-racial models—is yet to be announced. On the same day, Tom Ford will host an intimate dinner to unveil his namesake label’s in-season menswear and womenswear Fall 2016 ready-to-wear collections. “It will be interesting to see how Tom Ford interprets this new formula, it’s expected to be quite intimate and this presentation is actually closer in style to couture than ready-to-wear,” remarked Vogue Arabia’s Daniela Agnelli.

The Show Must Go On

Despite Oscar de la Renta’s former creative director Peter Copping’s unexpected exit in July, the storied New York brand’s Spring 2017 show will take place on September 12th. Monse founders and Oscar de la Renta alumni Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia have returned to the label to assume the roles of co-creative directors. However, the Spring 2017 collection has been designed by the in-house team.

Runway Rebels

Those awaiting Raf Simons’ debut at Calvin Klein will have to contain their excitement until February, as the brand will forgo its runway show this season. Meanwhile, designer Diane von Furstenberg (who hosted a presentation in lieu of a fashion show last season) will only hold showroom appointments. “We’re all curious to see how the new chief creative, Jonathan Saunders, will interpret his first collection for DVF,” mused Agnelli. Certainly, he has big shoes to fill.

Shop the Shows

Pushing the direct-to-consumer model is Tommy Hilfiger. This season, the House will hold a public shopping extravaganza with a carnival themed event complete with rides, snacks, and the brand’s Fall 2016 ready-to-wear collection. Gigi Hadid—who recently collaborated on a collection for the American brand—will host the fashion show party (dubbed Tommy Pier) on September 8th. Vogue Arabia’s Daniela Agnelli commented, “As designers like Tommy Hilfiger magnify the events surrounding their fashion shows, they also amplify the attention their respective brands get on social media.” To be seen how this translates to sales.

Meanwhile, Thakoon returns to the NYFW schedule this season but will forego a runway show in favor of a presentation and see-now-buy-now model. His eponymous label’s Fall 2016 collection will be sold at his recently opened boutique. Michael Kors clients will also be able to shop a curated selection of fresh-off-the-runway pieces at the label’s Bleecker Street boutique immediately after the brand’s Spring 2017 runway show.

Fashion at Your Fingertips

For the duration of Fashion Month, Google will include a special search function curated by fashion designers. Compatible across desktops and mobiles, the platform will feature an informative carousel that will appear above search results. According to The New York Times, the special feature will enable brands to manage highlights, reveal behind-the-scenes footage, and provide information on direct consumer points of sale for in-season and off-the-runway merchandise.

 

Homepage image:Photographed by Valentina Frugiuele